Daily Republican., 1887-08-04
TRANSFORMED INTO A LAKE.
Eject Of tho Earthquake in
Trigg County, WeDtucky-30O Acres Of
Land Sink Five Feet.

Terrifying Effect Of the Barthquaks in
Trigg County. HeDtucky-3OO Acres of
Land sink Five Feet.
EVANSVILLE, Ind August 3 From
gentleman who has just arrived frcm
HopkiDsville particulars have been or
tainsd In regard TO the sinking Of land
IN rrigg County, Kentucky, since the
earthquake on Monday DiRht. He says
that the country aboIt the scene is low
and swempy and almost inaccessible In
places, save by old beaten paths. Much
Of IL is wild, and contains large dense
woods. Golden Poud 10 mere hamlet,
containing two settlements OF negroes,
who exc ont . living by working on
several large farms owpsd by uop resi- =
dents. Monday night about 9 O'Clock
several of them felt the earth trem bic,
but thought nothing serious had 90
cured beyond o slight tremor, and
after gossipDinR over it went to bsd.
About IL O'Clock every body was
awakened by . sharp shock and had
barely jumped to their feet when the
earth. with Q shaking, dizzy mott, n,
suddenly sank . distance OF Ave feet,
carrying houses and terrified darkies
with It. the scenes that ensued battling
description. The negroes fell on their
knees and in frepEied 'onss ''prayed the
Lord to save them" Othsrs began
shouting and prsising tine Almighty,
and ever and amen Gazing au upward
glance to Gee IL chariots of 1re were not
desosr ding. Added 70 this pandemou.
ium was the intense darkness which
prevailed, the moon beirg completely
obsoured by heavy black clouds which
hung very low and like pail over the
doomed districs. Rumblipes we're heard
from the depths below which gradually
became louder, and numerous springs,
hidden for years, suddenly found an
opening and began to butbia up ward in
constantly increasing streams.
The terrified inhAbitante, not pausing
for household goods or cbattels, gath
cred their offspring hurrieily, and
rushed away from the doomed spot, and
some OF thom are still putting ss m uch
distance bet ween them and the sinking
land As possible. More courageo- -s ones
only fed until they reached safe ground
and there waited until deylight, when
they ventuIed back to the scene OF the
nights terror and gazed sadly upon the
ruins spread before them. Over $50
acres of fine farm land, including one
mag nihcent plantation owned by u. A.
Hayden, lay from Ave to six feet below
the level OF the surrounding country 1,
and contained about three feet OF wnter
from the springs started by the earth
quake. A large area Of tobacco and
corn will be o total loss.
Nearly all the cabins have been torn
loose aud ore floating about In various
parts, while household goods are mixed
up In inextricable confusion. Forum
Ately NO lives have been lost, bat the
loss to property is incslculable. Tne
catastrophe WINS undoubtedly caused by
the earthquake, which was poticeabie
In Tennessee, Missouri. Kentucky and
Indiana at Il 81, as therum bling sounds
and vibrations felt weIe similar to those
of 9 seismic disturbance. Golden Pond
Ia about 100 miles distant from o spot
where @ similar catastrophe occnrred
about 20 years ago, when lake Of large
area suddenly disappeared, leaving
nothing but the bed, In the centre OF
which was . hole Of unfAthomabl
depth and several y ards IN diameter.